The School Counseling Department follows the ASCA National Model (2005) recommendations and guidelines in delivering a comprehensive guidance curriculum, individual and small group counseling, responsive services, and system support. The following document defines the school counselor's role in each of these areas.
American School Counselor Association. (2005). The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Author.
The function of the Guidance Curriculum at the Elementary level focuses on personal/social development as well as academic development while introducing career education and planning. The majority of the school counselor’s time will be spent in classroom lessons, groups, and responsive services as children are continuing to develop the ability to understand themselves and their choices.
The School Counseling Department evaluated three random other school district websites in developing this specific layout of information for the Baker Elementary website. The attached document shows contrast and comparison within the following three school sites: Clark School in Erie, PA, Valley View Elementary School in Boise Idaho, and Stoneybrook Elementary in York, PA.
The School Counseling Department evaluated a number of commercially devised programs in developing the guidance curriculum. The attached document evaluates the following programs: Student Success Skills (academic development), Character Counts (personal/social development), and Junior Achievement (career development).
Individual Student Planning
Through consultation with parents/guardians and school staff, the school counselors will work with each student to begin to formalize plans for future academic and career development success. This may involve formal assessments conducted with the school psychologist in order to determine how the school can provide the most supportive learning environments for all students.
Responsive Services
Individual Counseling:
Baker Elementary school counselors will provide brief, solution-focused counseling to students as needed. In situations where a student requires more than our department can provide, a referral will be made to outside community resources.
Possible reasons for referral:
Suicidal behavior
Abuse and neglect
Substance abuse
Eating disorders
Severe behavioral deficits
Severe mental health disorders
Small Group Counseling:
The School Counseling Department will run approximately 3 small groups that will meet once a week for six weeks. Group topics may be determined by needs assessments that will be administered throughout the year to parents and school staff. Students may be referred by parents, school staff, or students may themselves indicate an interest in participation. The counselors will conduct a brief pre-screen to ensure that each student is a good fit for the group.
Philosophy of Group Counseling
Some groups will be structured and focus on skill development, while other groups will focus more on interpersonal relations and group interaction.
Parent Permission is required for participation in small groups. Please see the attached permission form.
Brigman, G., & Earley, B. (1995). Group counseling for school counselors: A practical guide. Portland, ME: Walch Publishing.
Groups that have been run in the past:
Facing Changes – a group for students experiencing divorce
Playground Pals – a social skills group
Keeping it Cool – a group for students to learn skills to cope with anger management
Confidentiality
Since counseling is based on a trusting relationship between counselor and client, all information shared by group members is kept confidential except in certain situations in which there is an ethical responsibilty to limit confidentiality. Parents/Guardians will be notified if there is any indication that the student is hurting himself/herself or another person.
The following documents contain information on the small groups we will be running this year. They were created by Millersville University graduate students and are reproduced with permission from the author.
Consultation:
The counselors consult with parents/guardians, staff, and community agencies regarding strategies to help students and families. Areas addressed may include: Academic concerns; school performance concerns such as absenteeism, tardiness, misbehavior, suspensions, etc.; and/or personal/social concerns such as family issues, coping with stress/loss, relationship concerns, crises, and possible mental health concerns. Parents are invited to make an appointment with the counselor via email or by calling the school.
Parent Education:
The School Counseling Department believes that it is important to support parents and guardians in their role in fostering their child’s development. As such, the School counseling Program will provide several parent workshops throughout the year as well as a Parent Resource Center where parents can find support and helpful information. More infomation on the resources used in parent workshops can be found in the following document.
System Support
A major role of the school counselor is to maintain overall system support for the comprehensive school counseling program. The details of this component will be outlined under the Management System section of our website.
American School Counselor Association. (2005). The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Author.
At Baker Elementary...
Guidance Curriculum
The function of the Guidance Curriculum at the Elementary level focuses on personal/social development as well as academic development while introducing career education and planning. The majority of the school counselor’s time will be spent in classroom lessons, groups, and responsive services as children are continuing to develop the ability to understand themselves and their choices.
The School Counseling Department evaluated three random other school district websites in developing this specific layout of information for the Baker Elementary website. The attached document shows contrast and comparison within the following three school sites: Clark School in Erie, PA, Valley View Elementary School in Boise Idaho, and Stoneybrook Elementary in York, PA.
The School Counseling Department evaluated a number of commercially devised programs in developing the guidance curriculum. The attached document evaluates the following programs: Student Success Skills (academic development), Character Counts (personal/social development), and Junior Achievement (career development).
Our Guidance Lesson:
Other Sample Guidance Lessons:
Academic Development Lesson, Grades K-5
Taintor, C. (2009, June17). Even superheroes need help. The Counselors Room. Retrieved October, 23, 2010, from http://www.counselorsroom.com/SCREL01/LessonPlans/LP_23_SUPERHEROES.DOC.
Career Development Lesson, Grade 3
Available from: Tucson Unified School District
Personal/Social Development Lesson, Grades K-5
Available from: ASCA Resources Page
Individual Student Planning
Through consultation with parents/guardians and school staff, the school counselors will work with each student to begin to formalize plans for future academic and career development success. This may involve formal assessments conducted with the school psychologist in order to determine how the school can provide the most supportive learning environments for all students.
Responsive Services
Individual Counseling:
Baker Elementary school counselors will provide brief, solution-focused counseling to students as needed. In situations where a student requires more than our department can provide, a referral will be made to outside community resources.
Possible reasons for referral:
Small Group Counseling:
The School Counseling Department will run approximately 3 small groups that will meet once a week for six weeks. Group topics may be determined by needs assessments that will be administered throughout the year to parents and school staff. Students may be referred by parents, school staff, or students may themselves indicate an interest in participation. The counselors will conduct a brief pre-screen to ensure that each student is a good fit for the group.
Philosophy of Group Counseling
Some groups will be structured and focus on skill development, while other groups will focus more on interpersonal relations and group interaction.
Parent Permission is required for participation in small groups. Please see the attached permission form.
Brigman, G., & Earley, B. (1995). Group counseling for school counselors: A practical guide. Portland, ME: Walch Publishing.
Groups that have been run in the past:
Facing Changes – a group for students experiencing divorce
Playground Pals – a social skills group
Keeping it Cool – a group for students to learn skills to cope with anger management
Confidentiality
Since counseling is based on a trusting relationship between counselor and client, all information shared by group members is kept confidential except in certain situations in which there is an ethical responsibilty to limit confidentiality. Parents/Guardians will be notified if there is any indication that the student is hurting himself/herself or another person.
The following documents contain information on the small groups we will be running this year. They were created by Millersville University graduate students and are reproduced with permission from the author.
Consultation:
The counselors consult with parents/guardians, staff, and community agencies regarding strategies to help students and families. Areas addressed may include: Academic concerns; school performance concerns such as absenteeism, tardiness, misbehavior, suspensions, etc.; and/or personal/social concerns such as family issues, coping with stress/loss, relationship concerns, crises, and possible mental health concerns. Parents are invited to make an appointment with the counselor via email or by calling the school.
Parent Education:
The School Counseling Department believes that it is important to support parents and guardians in their role in fostering their child’s development. As such, the School counseling Program will provide several parent workshops throughout the year as well as a Parent Resource Center where parents can find support and helpful information. More infomation on the resources used in parent workshops can be found in the following document.
Sample Materials from Love and Logic:
System Support
A major role of the school counselor is to maintain overall system support for the comprehensive school counseling program. The details of this component will be outlined under the Management System section of our website.